Alarm clock time-setting mechanism



March 5, 1940. G, D, HoF-E; 2,192,377'

ALARM CLOCK TIME-SETTING MECHANISM Filed May 6, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VEN TGR. /w-'f s, ,1 BY

Qur A TTORNEY.

March 5, 1940.

G. D. HoFE 2,192,377

ALARM cLocK TIME-SETTING MEcHANIsM Filed May e, 193,1.. 2 sheets-sheet 2 1V f? 4Z 7# 19 42 15 ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 5, 1940 2,192,377

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALARM CLOCK TIME-SETTING MECHANISM George D. Hofe, South Orange, N. J.

Application May 6, 1937, Serial No. 141,015

' z Claims. (C1. 58-16) My invention relates to clock mechanism and Mechanism for carrying out my invention inrefers particularly to mechanism adapted for cludes means for temporarily holding the alarm alarm clock time-setting mechanism, release sleeve in inoperative position and means A person on waking on the first strokes of an for turning the time-setting mechanism, say 15 alarm may desire to shut oi the alarm and at thel minutes, so as to release the alarm at 7 15 instead 5 same time re-set it to go off at a later time, say of at 7:00. or 30 minutes later. Also, a person, being More particularly, in accordance With my inaWake before the alarm goes off, may wish to vention I attach a ratchet wheel to the timedefer the time of setting by a like interval of setting spindle and provide a pawl therefor re- 10 time. ciprocable by pressing down a knob on the top of 10 Among the desirable objects of my invention is a rod projecting through the clock casing. This the provision of ysimple means for enabling the pawl has a limited stroke, so that after engaging time of operation of the alarm to be set ahead by such wheel it turns it through the angle necessary a predetermined interval of time. A further obto change the time of alarm release from, say, l5 ject is to provide means for effecting the above 7:00 to r7:15. Operatively connected to such a 15 object so constructed that it may be applied to rod is aprojection whichcontacts with the sliding alarm clocks of standard types with a. minimum sleeve, or more conveniently the gear mounted of expense and trouble, thereon, to push it back into and hold it in in- Other desirable attributes of my invention will operative position while the pawl is moving the hereinafter appear. time-setting spindle clockwise from 7:00 to r1:15. 20

The invention is more particularly adapted for The alarm-Clock time-setting mechanism 0f use in connection with alarm clocks provided with my inVentiOn alsO includes Various features 0f a rotatable spindle by which the time at which construction and combinations of parts, as will the alarm goes ofi may be fixed. This spindle appear from the following description and the carries an arm, and rotatably mounted on the appended claims. 25 spindle is a sleeve driven by the clock train and For further deserptin. reference Will 110W be pressed by a leaf spring against this arm. In had vto the accompanying drawings, illustrating a the end of this sleeve is a recess having one Wall Practical embodiment 0f my invention. Similar perpendicular to the end of the sleeve and the parts being designated by similar reference numopposite wall inclined thereto. The sleeve robers, and in which: 30 tates continuously, and when the recess comes Figure 1 is a central vertical section through under the arm, the sleeve is free to move towards the upper part 0f an alarm clock embodying my the arm under impulse of its spring and thereinvention. by permit a stop to move out of the path of Figure2isasection on theline 2 2 of Figure 1.

`3:5 oscillation of the bell striking member and so Figure 3 is a top plan view of the clock as a 35 release the alarm mechanism. As the sleeve con- Whole. tinues to rotate, the inclined wall of the recess Figures 4, 6 and 8 are enlarged detail front eleengages the arm and by its cam action forces vations, with parts broken away, 0f a part 0f the the sleeve back into its initial position against time Setting mechanism in suCCessiVe Operating 40 the pressure of its'spring. positions. 40

Inclocks of this type, as heretofore constructed, Figures 5J 7 and 9 are side elevations of the means are provided for moving the spindle carryparts shown in Figures 4, 6 and 8, respectively, ing the arm in one direction only, that is in the with parts broken away and in section. direction necessary to make the alarm go oi at The practically workable eXeI-nplieatien 0f the an earlier time, for the reason that movement of alarm clock time-setting meellanisln 0f Iny lnven- 45 the arm in theopposite direction may involve tion illustrated in the aCCOnlDanying drawings bringing it against the wall 0f the recess which Will noW be' particularly described aS t0 its C011- is perpendicular to the end of the sleeve. If that StriletiOn and manner 0f Operation. should occur, further movement of thearm will The mechanism is shown as applied to an be impossible, and, in attempting to move it, the alarm clock of a standard type comprising a 50 arm may be sheared off. This is to say, if the casing l0, faee Il, back l2, and glass I3. Only alarm is set for '7:00 a. m. and it is desired to set such parts of the clock and alarm mechanisms itior r1:15, it is necessary to turn the arm-carryare shown as are necessary t0 illustrate the 0D- ing spindle anti-clockwise through an angle coreratiOn 0f Iny iInDrOVed time-setting mechanism.

responding to 23% hours. r i The time-setting spindle l5 has the usual knob 55 I6 at its rear end and the time-indicating hand I1 at its front end. Rotatably and slidably mounted on the spindle I5 is a sleeve I8 yieldingly pressed forwards towards the front of the clock by a leaf spring 20. Its forward movement is limited by an arm 24 extending radially outwards from the spindle I5. In the end of the sleeve I 8 is a recess 25 having one wall perpendicular to the end of the sleeve (shown in contact with the upper side of the arm 24 in Figure 4) and the opposite wall inclined thereto. This sleeve rotated is clockwise (Figures 2, 4, 6 and 8) by the minute gear 26, pinion 21 and gear I9 non-rotatably mounted on the sleeve I8. As soon as the perpendicular wall of the recess passes from un-- der the arm 24, the sleeve slides forward under the action of spring 20 until the bottom of the recess engages the arm 24. The spring 20 has a rearwardly turned end 28 which normally lies in the path of oscillation of the bell-striking member 30, as shown in Figures l, '7 and 9. When, however, the spring 20 moves the sleeve I8 forwardly, the end 28 of the spring also moves forwardly so as to be clear of the bell-striking member, as shown in Figure 5. The latter is then free to be oscillated by the engagement of an escapement 3 I, forming part of such member, with a spring-driven toothed wheel 32. The clock may be provided with any suitable alarm shut-off mechanism, such as a plunger 55, having a knob 36 at the top, whereby it may be pushed down or pulled up, and a button 3l at the bottom for engagement with an arm 38 forming part of the bell-striking member.

After the sleeve I8 has moved forward and permitted the spring 2l) to release the alarm, further clockwise movement thereof brings the inclined wall of the recess 25 into engagement with the arm 24 and the sleeve is gradually pushed back into its original position.

Since the vertical wall of the recess 25 normally prevents clockwise rotation of the arm 24, it is customary to connect the arm 24 to the spindle I5 and/or its operating knob I6 so that it can be turned only in an anti-clockwise direction. If, however, means are provided for pushing the sleeve back and holding it in its rearward position, the arm 24 is free to move clockwise, so as to change the time of alarm release from, say, 7:00 to '7:15 a. m., irrespective of the position of the recess 25 with respect to the arm 24.

Various means may be provided for pushing the sleeve rearwardly and holding it in such position. As shown, such means include an annular rib 40 on the front face of the gear I9 and a vertically slidable fork 4I straddling the sleeve I 8 and having two tongues 42 stamped therefrom and pressed rearwardly to engage the rib 40 and push the gear I9 and sleeve I8 rearwardly. In the uppermost position of the fork, the tongues 42 are clear of the rib 40, so that the sleeve I8 is free to slide forward and release the alarm, as shown in Figure 4. If, however, the fork is moved downwardly, the tongues engage the rib and push the gear I9, sleeve I8 and spring 20, rearwardly into alarm-locking position, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

The arm 24 is now free to be turned clockwise, and provision is made for so turning it by the simple operation of continuing the downward movement of the fork. For this purpose, a ratchet wheel 44 is rigidly mounted on the time-setting shaft I5. The number of teeth on such wheel are such that a movement of one tooth corresponds with a suitable interval of time, say 'Z1/2 minutes. On the fork is a pawl 45 connected thereto by a pin 6U slidable in a slot 6I in the fork. The pawl is provided with a spring 4'I, the upper end of which is inserted in a slot in the fork 4I and held in position in such slot by any suitable means. The lower part of the spring 41 is offset, as shown in Figure l., so that it overlies the pawl 45. Provision is made for preventing the pawl engaging the ratchet wheel under pressure of its spring 47 until after the tongues 42 have engaged the rib 40. For this purpose, the tail of the pawl is formed with an inclined edge for engagement with an arm 46 secured to the clockwork frame when the fork is in its top position. As the fork moves downwardly, the pressure of the spring 4l being exerted on the pawl not only laterally but also upwardly, holds the pawl stationary until the pin 60 strikes the top of the slot 6|. Thereafter, the fork and pawl move downwardly together and the tail of the pawl slides under the arm 46 and the head of the pawl is pushed by its spring into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, so that further downward movement of the fork causes the wheel 44 to be moved, say two teeth, and thereby change the setting of the alarm 15 minutes.

On the upward return movement of the fork, the pawl is held stationary by reason of the engagement of its head with the teeth of the wheel 44 until the pin 60 strikes the bottom of the slot when the pawl is drawn upwardly into engagement with the fixed arm 46. When that occurs the pawl is moved out of engagement with the wheel 44.

The shank of the fork 4I is slidable vertically in a portion 50 of the clockwork frame and is provided with a terminal cup-shaped part 5I to receive the lower end of a plunger 52 extending upwardly through the clock case. This separable connection allows the clockwork to be removed readily from the clock case. A spring 53 between the portion 50 of the frame and the cup 5I yieldingly holds the fork in its upper position. Upward movement of the fork is limited by a stop, either on the fork, or, as shown at 54, on the plunger 52. On top of the plunger is a button 55, conveniently oblong in form to distinguish it from the round button 36 on the alarm shut-off plunger 35. When the button is pushed down,

the fork and pawl are moved down also. As soon as pressure on the button is released, the parts return to their initial position under the action of spring 53. To ensure equal movement of the time-setting spindle for each downward movement of the button, suitable stop means are provided for limiting the stroke of the pawl. This stop may be the under side of the button 55 engaging the bushing in the clock casing, or the circular recess of fork 4I abutting against the sleeve I8 as shown in Figure 8.

The operation is as follows:

When the alarm goes off, the mechanism is in the position shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5. To delay its operation fteen minutes, the button 55 is pushed down as far as it will go, carrying with it the fork 4I and the pawl 45. During the first part of the movement the tongues 42 of the fork engage the rib 40 of the gear I 9 and push it, the sleeve I8 and spring 20, rearwardly. This movement causes first, disengagement of the arm 24 with the vertical wall of the recess 25 in the end of the sleeve I8; second, movement of the end 28 of the spring into the path of oscillation of the bell-striking member which then stops the ringing of the alarm.

During this first part of movement, the pawl 45, through its pin and slot arrangement, is kept out or' engagement with the gear M by its cam engagement with projection 4S of the frame. After these movements have been completed, further downward movement of the fork and pawl releases the tail of the latter from engage ment with the projection 4G sufficiently to permit the head of the pawl to engage the ratchet wheel 455. The final part of the downward movement oi the fork and pawl vcauses the pawlto turn the ratchet wheel, andwith it the arm 24, the distance of two teeth in a clockwise direction, i. e., the time of ringing of the alarm is delayed l5 minutes.

When the finger is removed from the button 55, the spring 53 raises the fork 4|, pawl 45, and plunger 52 until the stop 54 on the latter strikes the bushing in the clock casing. This upward movement draws the pawl away from the ratchet wheel 44 by reason of the engagement of its tail with the projection 4S and then moves the tongues 42 out of contact with the rib d0. The spring 20 is now free to act on the sleeve i8 and push it forward. However,the arm 24 has been moved l5 minutes to the right of the position shown in Figure 4, so that the sleeve has tol rotatev a further period of l5 minutes to bring the recess 25 once more beneath the arm 24 te' cause the alarm to go off.

It will be obvious that if the button 55 is pushed twice, thetirne the alarm goes oi will be delayed 30 minutesk instead of 15, and so on. The unit of delay may be l0 minutes, 20 minutes, or anyi other desired interval of time.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the construction of the mechanism of my invention shown in the drawings and above particularly described, within the princispring for yieldingly pressing said end against said projection, said end having a recess therein with one wall perpendicular to such end and the other inclined thereto to permit the sleeve to move toward said ratchet wheel when said recess comes into register with said projection and thereby release the said oscillatable member,

an annular cam surface carried by said sleeve, a cam member slidable transversely to said spindle adapted to engage said cam surface and force the sleeve clear of said projection to permit said spindle to be turned in the same direction as the sleeve is rotated to delay the time of operation of the said oscillatable member.

Alarm clock mechanism, comprising a casing, an ceciilatable n', nber adapted to carry a bell striker, a supporting frame therefor, an alarm time-setting spindle rotatably but non-slidably mounted on said frame, a sleeve slidably and rotatably mounted on said spindle, a toothed wheel nxedly mounted on said sleeve and adapted to be continuously driven, a ratchet wheel i'lxedly mounted on said spindle, a spring for yieldingly pressing said sleeve towards said ratchet wheel, a projection on spindle adapted to engage the end of the sleeve facing said ratchet wheel when 'the sleeve is to move towards it under the action of said spring, said end having a recess therein with one wall perpendicular to such end and the other inclined thereto to permit the sleeve to move toward'said ratchet wheel when said reces-s comes into register with said projection and thereby release said oscillatable member cam means rigidly connected to said toothed wheel, a cam member slidable transversely to said spindie between the ratchet wheel and the toothed wheel to bring .a cam surface on said cam member into engagement with said cam means for :forcing the sleeve clear of said projection to per mit the spindle to be turned in the same direction as the sleeve is rotated to delay the operation oi? the said oscillatable member, a pawl carried by said cam member adapted to engage said ratchet wheel as said cam .member moves between the ratchet wheel and the toothed wheel, means for preventing engagement between said pawl and ratchet wheel until after the sleeve has been moved clear or said projection, and means extending through the casing for manually moving said earn member.

GEORGE D. HOFE. 

